VELU MATE (pronounced VEL-oo MAH-teh) is the Latvian Goddess of death. She rules over the land known as "Vinsaule", which translates as "the world behind." Dressed in a white woolen cape, she receives the souls of the dead, which are known as "veli". Velu Mate's name means Mother of the veli--she is one of many Latvian mother Goddesses or Mates.